Process-kettle for canned fruits, vegetables, &amp;c.



No. 759,411. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

J. BAKER.

PROCESS KETTLE FOR CANNED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, 6w. APPLICATION FILED oo zs, 1902.

no MODEL. N 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

J. BAKER. PROCESS KETTLE FOR CANNED FRUITS, VEGETABLES, '&0.

APPLIOATION IILED'QOT. 25, 1902.

2 SHEBTSBHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BAKER, OF HOOPESTON, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,411, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed October 25, 1902. Serial No. 128,695. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BAKER, a citizen of Y the United States, and a resident of Hoopessists in the features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In factories in which thecanning of fruits, vegetables, and the like is conducted upon a large scale it is desirable that the process-kettles shall be arranged in a horizontal line, and in, order that the trays or baskets of cans may beconveniently lifted into and withdrawn from the kettles it is customary to provide an over head traveling hoisting apparatus. The lids or covers of the process-kettles must be provided with means whereby they may be tightly clamped to the tops of the kettles during the cooking of their contents, and it is also desirable that means shall be provided whereby the lids or covers of the kettle may be conveniently swung away to uncover the kettletops to permit the cans to be introduced into and removed therefrom. In practice it is found highly objectionable to provide the lids 0r covers of the kettles with clamping mechanism or supporting devices that extend to any considerable distance above the tops of I the kettles, as this is found to seriously interfere with the back-and-forth movement of the hoisting mechanism across the tops of the kettles.

My present invention is designed to provide a process-kettle the lid or cover of which is provided with supporting and closing devices that do not project inconveniently above the top of the kettle and do not interfere with the free movement of the hoisting mechanism over the tops of the kettles and in close proximity thereto whether the lids or covers be in open or closed position.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a process-kettle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the kettle with the cover or lid removed. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views showing the mechanism for supporting the lid or cover of the kettle.

A designates the body of the kettle, that is preferably formed of wrought metal and is provided with suitable pipes B and C for admitting and withdrawing the water wherein the cans will be immersed.

D designates a steam-pipe that enters the kettle A beneath its perforated bottom a. The body of the kettle A is shown as provided with an offset chamber E secured thereto, into which chamber enters the lower part of a thermometer c. and to which chamber is also, preferably, connected a blow-off valve 0. The chamber E is also connected by a pipe E with the bottom of the kettle A, so as to insure a has ,ca sttherewith a number of lugs a to Whichare pivotally secured, as at er the clamping-links a These links are adapted to swing between the projecting arms f of the cover- .ring F' and the threaded endsof the links at are provided with wing-nuts a, adapted to securely clamp the lid or cover inposition upon the top ring of the kettle. At the top of the kettle is bolted, as at w and w, a vertical standard or bracket G, in whichis held in manner free to move in vertical directionthevertical vlid-pintle H. Preferably the bracket G is of -wing-nuts (6 standing its great weight.

U-shaped outline and is provided with a cover G, that is securely bolted thereto when the lid-pintle H is in position for use. That part of the lid-pintle H within the bracket G is preferably square, and one of its sides is formed with a toothed rack 7L, adapted to be engaged by a pinion k, carried by a shaft k,

that is journaled in the lugs g, formed on the side G of the bracket G. To the shaft is is attached a hand-lever K, the free end of which these bearings being held in position against displacement by pins or studs on. There are two sets of roller-bearings shown in the drawings, one set being arranged adjacent the upper part and the other set adjacent the lower part of the lid-pintle H.

'The upper end of the lid-pintle H is round and sets within a journal-socket F preferably cast integral with the ring F. By preference the upper end of the lid-pintle H is formed with a recess to receive a ball-bearing f, and a seat for this bearing is formed at the top of the pintle-socket F Preferably, also, ahole f 5 is formed at the top of the pintle-socket F through which oil will be delivered to the top of the pintle H.

From the foregoing construction it will be seen that when the lid or cover F is in the closed position (shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings) it will be securely retained by the If now it is desired to uncover the kettle, the operator after loosening and turning downward the several clamping-bolts a will swing upward the hand-lever K, thereby lifting the lid-pintle H, through the medium of the pinion 7c and rack h, until the lid or cover F is lifted clear from the top of the kettle. The operator will then swing the lid laterally until the top of the kettle is completely uncovered, so that the racks or trays containing the canned fruit, vegetables, or the like may be withdrawn therefrom. By means of the handleverK, the pinion is, rack h, and lid-pintle H the lid or cover can be readily lifted by the operator, and this, too, notwith- By providing the roller-bearings for the lid-pintleH thelifting of the lid or cover with the least possiblefriction is accomplished, as the tendency of the pinion is when actuated by the hand-lever K .materially above the top of the cover, and

hence the can-hoisting apparatus can be swung freely across the top of the cover without interference. This, as I have said, is an important feature, particularly in large factories where the process-kettles are arranged in rows with an overhead hoisting mechanism adapted to travel back and forth across the tops of the kettles.

It is manifest that the precise details of construction above set out may be Varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit of this invention. I wish it understood also that while the invention is particularly applicable for process-kettles and is described in connection therewith it may be used in connection with other receptacles, and I do not wish the invention, therefore, to be understood as limited to process-kettles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A kettle having a lid arranged to swing at substantially right angles thereto and provided with a pintle-socket, a vertically-movable and non-revoluble lid-pintle, the upper end of which sets within said pintle-socket, a fixed bracket connected to the body of the kettle, in which bracket said lid-pintle is sustained in manner free to move in vertical direction, a shaft mounted in said fixed bracket and an operating-lever carried by said shaft and connected to said non-revoluble pintle to raise said pintle, said lever extending forwardly at one side of the kettle.

2. A kettle having a lid arranged to swing at substantially right angles thereto and provided with-a pintle-socket, a vertically-movable and non-revoluble lid-pintle, the upper end of which sets within said pintle-socket, a bracket connected to the body of the kettle, in which bracket said lid-pintle is sustained in manner free to move in vertical direction, a lever connected to said non-revoluble pintle and whereby said pintle may be shifted vertically to raise said lid and antifriction-bearings held within said bracket and against which bearings said lid-pintle rests.

3. A kettle or receptacle having a lid arranged to swing at substantially right angles thereto and provided with a pintle-socket, a lid-pintle having its upper end journaled in said socket, a'bracket connected to the kettle for sustaining said pintle and provided at one side with roller-bearings to engage said pintle,,and-rack-and-pinion mechanism at the opposite side of said pintle whereby said pintle may be shifted to move the lid from the mouth of the kettle.

4:. A kettle having a lid arranged to swing at substantially right angles thereto and provided with a pintle-socket, a vertically-movable and non-revoluble lid-pintle, the upper end of which sets within said pintle-socket, a fixed bracket connected to the body of the shaft and a rack on said .non-revoluble pintle and engaging said pinion.

JOHN BAKER.

Witnesses: JOHN B. WALLBRIDGE,

NELsON SATGHELL, MILLARD J. HAWKINS. 

